〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what is the cause of it for as the Poet saith Foelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere ausas Charitie is an heavenly agitation both in and on the sanctified heart whence then is it from the earth no for all that is of the earth is both earthie and earthly but brotherly loue is heavenly therefore it must needs come from the Lord of heaven heavenly This fire then is kindled from the Empyrell Paradise of God and this love is enlived and caused after this manner The God of Love yea the Lord of Love it selfe hath loved us 2 Cor. 13.11.1 Iohn 4.16 Zeph. 2.1 Ephes 1.4 when we were not worthy to bee loved yea before we were at all in rerum natura which divine supreame love moved and procured him to chuse us in Christ before the foundation of the world That we should be holy and blamelesse before him in love This love of the Lord to his Saints kindleth in their hearts this their deare love to their loving God againe which is a finall cause of that sempiternall love So then that archetypus primigenius amor that un searchable love of IEHOVA is the efficient cause hujus amoris ectypi of this our love to our Maker for as the seale imprinteth into the waxe that image and character that is ingraven first into it selfe so the Love of God to us imprinteth into our hearts our love to him againe And of this love of ours to the Lrd ariseth our bounden Charity to our Brethren The Faithfull love one another because they love the Lord. Neither is it possible to be otherwise for the Spirit saith If a man say I love God and hateth his Brother be is a lyar for hee that loveth not his Brother whom hee hath seene how can he love God whom he hath not seene 1 Iohn 4.20 The necessity then of the connexion of those two loves of God and man is great yea absolute and the equity of of the dependencie of the latter upon the former is infringible because man is the Image of God created after the same Calvin Iust 1.2 c. 8. sect 40. Gen. 1.27 and the Samts recreated and renued in knowledge c. Colos 3.10 whence it followes that whosever loves the Lord dearely with Danid Ps 18.1 cannot choose but love his children sincerely Wee doe not speak of that mercenary love wherewith the servile Mammonists and slavish drudges of this perishing world with the Iewes doe love God for his Wine his Oyle and such transitories nor of that evanishing shadow of sâ—â—ming Charity wherewith the Hypocrites of this subtile generation favour the righteous for by-respects and sinister ends but we treat of that true love wherewith we love our blessed God for his owne most sweet and gracious selfe and of that upright Charity by the meanes whereof in trueth of heart we may say one to another as Paul to his Corinths It is not yours but you that I seeke a Cor. 12.14 And so this Brotherly love is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that infallible signe of true saving grace planted in that sanctified heart that enjoyes it whereby such a noble faithfull and loving Brother may most certainly perswade his owne soule that hee truely loveth his God and was first beloved of him and that before the â—oundation of the world so that now all things worke together for his best his Blisse Rom. 8.28 even his eternall Ioy being called according to the purpose of God which is his sweetest consolation For never did yea never could there any man love the chosen Darlings of God but onely he who was first beloved eveâ—lastingly and mercisully chosen of God O then let us labour for the reall practise Application true exercise of this most joyfull and blessed affection The woman of Samaria when shee knew that gift of God namely the excellencie of the water of Life shee entreated the Lord to give it her that she might thirst no more Iohn 4.15 So behold and consider the dignity of this fire of Love and Life and be ravished with a servent desire of it Motives to Charity And that we may be moved unto the amiable performance of this most acceptable obedience let us listen to these two mightie motives the first is the soeveraigne will and imperious precept of the Lord of hostes the second is the fruitfulnesse and gracious bounty of this liberall Grace Concerning the first we are most frequently commanded to love our neighbour Exod. 23.4 Lâ—uit 19.18 Dâ—ut 22.1 Proverb 15.17 Esay 1.17 Matth. 19.19 Luke 11.42 Iohn 13.34 35. c. 15.12 17. Rom. 12.9 10. c. 13.8.1 Cor 1.2.2 Cor. 2.8 Gal. 5.6.13 14. 22. Ephes 3.17 c. 4.2.15 32. Phil. 1.9 c. 2.2 Colos 2.2.1 Thess 3.12 c. 4.9 c 5.8.1 Timoth. 1.5 c. 2.15 c. 4.12 c. 6.11.2 Timoth. 1.13 2.22 Tit. 2.2 Heb. 10.24 Iam. 1.27.1 Pet. 1.22 c. 2.27 c. 3.8 c. 4.8 c. 5.14.2 Pet. 1.7.1 Iohn 2.10 c. 3.11.14.16 18. 23. c. 7.11 21.2 Iohn 5. Iude 2. So frequent is the precept because the duty is so necessary Concerning the second motive great is the utility and bounty of love for first it causeth that amiable and quiet peace of assotiation which the Psalmist declareth with the blessings that accompany the same in this manner Behold how good and how comely and pleasant a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity Psal 133. It is like the precious oyntment upon the head that ran downe upon the beard even Anrons beard that went downe to the skirts of his garments as the deaw of Hermon and as the deaw that descended upon the Mountaines of Sion for there the Lord commanded the blessing even life for evermore Charitie is the exercise of the faithfull Cal. 5.6 1 Cor. 16.14 Whence it comes to passe that as the ungodly bury many good gists in others under that one infirmity of malice â—rov 10.12 so Gods Children cover many infirmities in others under that one good gist of Charity for as St. Hierome saith Non aequè audiunt Inimici Amici qui Inimicus est etiam in scirpo nodum quaerit Envie hath the yellow laundies 1 Cor. 13.5.6 but Charity is not easily provoked thinketh no evill rejoy ceth not in iniquitie but rejoyceth in the truth for Charitie is not suspitious but beareth all things beleeueth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Chap. 8.2 Chap 13.4 Charitie edifieth Wherein in many things for it worketh longanimitie and patience kindnesse benevolence and humilitie Vnto these Charity addeth spirituall magnanimitie 1 Iohn 4.18 By the vertue of Charitie the Saints live in the light of the Lord and are blamelesse 1 Iohn 2.10 By Charitie we are perswaded of the sanctifying grace of God in this world Chap 3.14 and of his crowning glorie in the world to come Finally Charitie is the bond of perfection Coloss 3.14 and the
A SPIRITVALL POSIE FOR ZION OR Two Decades of Observations Theologicall and Philosophicall BY ARCHIBALD SYMMER Preacher of Gods word at Great-Oakley in North-hampton-shire Virus ero sime carnalis aranea carpat Sed mel siqua legat spiritualis apes LONDON Printed for W. Sheares 1629. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Sir THOMAS BROOKE of Great-Oakley Knight one of his Majesties Iustices of Peace in North-hampton-shire and my very gratious Patron Grace in this world and glory in the world to come Right Worshipfull WOnderfull is the power of the Almighty in the sense of Smelling and powerfull is his providence in the object of the same whether corporall or spirituall for as the first object is double naturall and artisiciall so is it a double demoustration of that vigilant care The first part of this ocular argument is this goodly Theatre the earth garnished with her glorious garment of Flora's fertilities that admirable diversitie of fragrant flowers The second part is apparent by that acumen hominis which God hath instilled into his reasonable creature for the refreshment of the spirits through the nostrils for the witty industry of man about the procurement of artificiall smels is great as appeareth by his diligence about the Moschat Sivet Conradus Gesner Hist of foure footed beasts c. But as the spirituall smell of the soule is farr more pretious so is the Divine Love Providence in this farre more great and gratious the impregnable proofe pregnant trueth wher of is his eternall word whence the Redeemed of the Lord doe gather odoriferous flowers to prevent the noysome and loathsome smell of impietie the contemplative smelling of which gratious garlands is the continuall delight of Davids Blessed man Psal 1.2 the practique a sweet savour unto the Lord as in the example of Noah Gen 8.21 Now out of this sacred Garden by the blessing of that ever blessed Gardener I have gathered a few spirituall flowers which I present unto your Worship in testimonie of my thanksulnes for all your constant loves earnestly craving that these first fruits of my poore Labours may passe into the world under the shelter of your gratious acceptation which patronage if I obtaine then shall this Tuzzimuzzie have its wished and expected smell Though theresore the mighty Apolloes of this Learned generation could have dedicated vnto your W. a farre more odoriferous Nosegay yet reject not this simple one The Persian Prince tooke in good part The water of the well Because he saw the giuers heart The givers gift excell So let it please your W. to respect Non quid sed quo animo for what I can I offer For loe I offer at your kindnesse shrine This little Incense or this flower of mine And so I humbly take my leave commending both your selfe and all yours to the effectuall blessing and grace of the Lord and to the power of his word whereby hee is able to build you up further and to give you an incorruptible inheritance among those that are called and sanctisied through faith in the Lord Iesus Your Worships ever to command ARCHIBALD SYMMER To the Christian Reader IT may come to passe Christian Reader that some affe-ear'd Midas will misconstrue these words of the Wife-man Heeks 12.12 Of making many bookes there is no end and much reading is a wearinesse of the flesh and some Cynicke Momus will mutter with the COmicke Niljam dictum quod non sit dictum priur all this therefore is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But let thy Christianity canse thee to consider the truth of that tryed Position 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nil tam facile quà m otiosum dormientem de alioram labore vigilijs disputare Hieron in Hos Martial shall sooner finde Lelius carping his verses then publishing his owne Sed tu vide et side The drift of my labours is thy good the information of the ignorant and reformation of the rebellious If I obtaine this thing blessed is my desire If thou attaine this end blesse God the Beginner and finisher of the same and so let carping Theon bite till his gums ake and viperous Zoilus spider-like consume his owne bowels through vnregarded malice but thou Vive vale siquid novisti rectius ist is Candidus imperti si non his utere meeum And so I commend thee to the grace of the Almightie and rest Thine in the Lord Iesus A.S. A SPIRITVALL Posie for ZION The first Decad. Fl. 1. Of CHARITIE IEhova Alpha and Omega Invocatio Gen. 15.1 Ps 18.2 thou All sufficient Shield to thy Saints who out of the mouth of babes Psalm 8.2 and sucklings hast ordained strength and perfected thy prayse direct and protect I humble intreat thee both the minde and pen of thy poore servant that whatsoever shall proceed from hence may bee according to the Analogie of faith and tend to the declaration of thy most orthodoxall will through Christ our Immortall Redeemer Amen And thou Gentle Reader because I would have thee use me and peruse my labours in Love and Iudgement I have begun with thee in Love and of Charitie and Sebrietie Aristotle entereth into the treatise of his Demonstratiue Syllogisme in his Posterior Analytikes with the consideration of the these three Questions principally Cap. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so to borrow the Aegyptian spoile wee will beginne our Love the Infallible Demonstration of unfained Christianitie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 13.11 that there is Brotherly Love even among the Militant Saints of God is questienlesse for as Ichova the true God is the God of Love so the true Chrulian the man of God is the man of Love as were Abraham Gen. Rom. 9.3 Col. 1.4.1 Thess 1.3 Philem. 5. Heb. 6.10 Apoc. 2.19 45.15 Moses Exod. 32.32 Paul the Colossians the Thessalonians Philemon the Hebrewes and the Angel and Pastor of the Church in Thyattia Neither indeed is it possible to be otherwise for as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 13.1 Though I speake with the tongue of men and of Angels and haue not Charitie I am become as sounding brasse or a tinckling cymball And as by faith the Redeemed of the Lord possesse Christ lesus their Immortall Husband Gal. 3.26 and by patience their owne soules Luke 21.19 so by the eternall bond of Christian Amitie they enjoy one another 1 Cor. 13.13 Ps 133.1 Though therefore as the Lord lesus saith Matth. 24.12 Among the wicked because iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall waxe cold yet the Love of the Elect shall continue and whosoever denieth this shall of necessitie inferre and averre this monstrous and rediculous absurditie that there is no treu Congregation on the earth which flatly contradicteth that trueth of the holy Ghost Psalm 97.10 The Lord preserveth the soules of his Saints Then take away Charitie take away the Congregation of Charitie Eph. 1.23 and 5.30 for this Mysticall Body of Christ
who can expresse the same but with teares of blood Gen. 49.18 O Lord wee have waited for thy salvation all the day long Come thou therefore O God from Teman Hab. 3.3 and thou Holy One of Israel from mount Paran Thus is the lovely City of the God of Love hated But behold the spirituall madnesse of the intoxicated braines of their opposers The hatred is no more strong and malicious then strange and marvellous Certainly some Circe or Proserpiua hath given them a Stygian potion else they could never prove such boistrous bedlams and ravening Woolues among the poore Sheepe of the Lord lesus For it is onely for the love of the Lord to his deare Children that these ingrate Rebels receive any good But for the Churches sake the Sunne should beturned into darknesse the Moone into blood and the Starres should withdraw their shining yea the ground would cleave asunder that is under them Num. 16.31 32.33 and the earth would open her mouth and swallow them up as it did Korah Dathan and Abiram so that they and all that they have should goe downe alive into the dolefull pit of endlesse perdition But as corke causeth yron to swim and keepeth it from sinking while they are joyned together so by the meanes of the Elect the Reprobate are preserved for a while from sinking and destruction Whilest righteous Lot continued in Sodom it was safe Gen. 19.24 but as soone as 〈◊〉 it the Lord rained upon it both fire and brimstone from Iehova out of heaven Exod. 14.22 No sooner had Israel passed through the red Sea but the waters returned and overthrew the Aegyptians so that Pharao Ver. 28 15.10 Heb. 11.29 and all his hoste sanke as leade in the great depths So at the consummation of the world when the number of the Elect shall be pertected and they ready for the Lord and their blessed immortalitie then shall the heavens at the brightnesse and terrour of that dreadfull Iudge of the world passe away with a great noyse and the Elements shall melt with servent heate the earth also and the workes that are therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 2.10 where then shall the wicked appeare then shall they confesse that as God blessed Obed Edom and all his houshold while the Arke continued with him 2 Sam 6.11 so they injoyed the blessings of God while his Saints continued with them And as the soes of the Church are foolish and mad so are they accursed of God for their furie and malice against his children and their end tragicall and lamentable For they like Ovids Giants warre against God himselfe Met. lib. 1. when they hate and persecute his dearest servants What doe yee against the Lord saith the Spirit Nah. 1.9 The machination and enterpriles of the Assyrians there against Iudah and Israel were against the Lord God himselfe Whosoever spoyleth the members of Christ upon earth let him feare that dreadfull complaint of their vindictive Head from heaven Act. 9.4.5 Saul Saul why persecutest thou met it is hard for thee to kicke against the prickes Wherefore unto all such belongeth the most just vengeance of the Lord of hostes They shall all be consumed and turned backe that hate Zion they shall be as the grasse upon the house tops which withereth afore is groweth up wherewith the mower filleth not his hand nor the gleaner his lap neither doe they which goe by say The blessing of the Lord be upon you we blesse you in the name of the Lord Psal 129.5 6 7 8. What was the end of Antiochus Epiphanes most woefull for after that he had sudued both Aegypt and Iudea 1 Maecab 1.18 19. spoyled the Temple and wasted the Citie of Iernsalem 1 Mac. 1.23 Dan. 8.9 to 15. erected an Idoll upon the Altar of the Lord and purposing to ransacke the Cities of Elimais and Persepolis 1 Mac. 6.1.3.4 2 Mac. 9.5 to 12. 1 Mac. 6.13.16 2 Mac. 9.9 28. he was repulsed by the Citizens and being stricken with an incurable disease he dyed an ignominious death and that in a strange land in the mountaines for the wormes rose up out of his owne bodie and whiles he lived in sorrow and paine his flesh fell away and the filthinesse of his smell was noysome to himselfe and all his Army Wherefore as saith discomfited Senacheribs inscription 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Learne by the tragicall ruine of this mercilesse monster to feare God and love his Saints for they that recieve these his Darlings receive Christ himselfe Matth. 10.40 and they that receive Christ receive the Father that sent him Fl. 7. Of CONIVG ALL AMITY IN humane societie there bee divers kindes of Loves as Fatherly Filiall Brotherly vnitie c. but as Salomon saith of the Vertuous Wise Prov. 31.29 Many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all so I say of Cordiall Amitie betweene Husband and Wife many Lovers have beene loyall but thou surmountest them all Love is the mightiest and most imperious affection of the whole heart and nature of man and this is the most durable and constant of all loves Slender trifles can quickly destroy other amities which are meerely improper to this but this Divine and Intire affection being sealed and ratified by the power of that supreame prerogatiue cannot be separated Gen. 2.22 neither by tribulation nor anguish famine nor nakednesse Nothing but death can bee the divider For Love is strong as death Iealousie is cruell as the grave the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vebement flame Many waters cannot qnench Love neither can the floods drowne it If a man would giue all the substance of his house for Love it would vtterly be contemned Which appeareth by the practise even of sundrie Gentiles Quintus Curtius writeth that Darius being conquered by Alexander the Great Darius sustained that disparagement and bitter distresse with couragious patience but when newes was brought him that his faire Queene Roxana was dead to shew that hee affected her more then all his royall dignitie he wrung his hands and wept bitterly Baptista Fulg. reporteth that a poore labouting man in Naples being berest of his Wise by a foyst of Moores threw himselfe into the Sea and swum after them till they tooke him up into the Gally Afterward they were both brought before the King of Thunis who being moved with compession at the relation of his love Plin. Nat. hist lib. 36. c. 5. sent them both home againe Artemisia bare such a love to her Husband Mausolus that she builded a Sepulcher for him and called it Mausolaeum after his name which was so glorious that it was ranked among those marchlesse Monumens which are termed The seven wonders of the world and that next unto the Temple of Diana in Ephesus so that the great Colosse of the Sunne at Rhodes the statue of Iupiter Olympius the wals of Babylon the Aegyptian Pir mides